Fluidized Bed Bioreactor for Nitrogen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wastewater treatment systems face challenges in efficiently removing nitrogenous waste and odors from wastewater, particularly in confined animal feeding operations, leading to environmental contamination and high operational costs due to the need for large holding ponds and inefficient fluidized bed systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage bioreactor system utilizing multi-zone aerobic and/or anaerobic fluidized expansion chambers with controlled wastewater velocity and geometry, combined with a web-based monitoring and control system to optimize denitrification processes and reduce the footprint of treatment facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional fluidized bed systems are used for denitrification, then nitrogenous waste removal is achieved, but the system requires large holding ponds and has high operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the treatment process into multiple zones (aerobic zones and anaerobic zones) within the fluidized bed reactor. This segmentation allows simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in different zones, increasing nitrogen removal efficiency per unit volume and reducing the overall system size required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional surface aeration to three-dimensional fluidized bed expansion, creating extensive gas-liquid-solid contact surfaces throughout the reactor volume. This dimensional change dramatically increases the reactive surface area available for nitrogen transformation processes
2Quantity of substance
If traditional fluidized bed systems are used for denitrification, then nitrogenous waste removal is achieved, but operational costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the wastewater itself as the carbon source for denitrification in the anaerobic zones, eliminating the need for external carbon addition. The fluidized bed structure also enables self-aeration through gas injection, reducing energy requirements for mechanical aeration systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions (nitrification, denitrification, and carbon oxidation) into a single integrated fluidized bed reactor system. This merging eliminates the need for separate treatment units and reduces overall operational complexity and costs
3Ease of operation
If conventional treatment systems are used, then wastewater treatment is provided, but the footprint of treatment facilities is large
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the reactor by using fluidized bed expansion to create high void fractions and increased surface area-to-volume ratios. This parameter change allows compact reactor design while maintaining high treatment capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a compact reactor design where multiple functional zones are nested within a single vertical reactor structure. The aerobic and anaerobic zones are arranged in series within the same reactor volume, maximizing space utilization and minimizing facility footprint
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively removes ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate from wastewater, preventing environmental contamination, reducing the size of treatment facilities, and enabling real-time monitoring and control to ensure compliance with discharge regulations, thereby lowering operational costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
multi-zone aerobic and/or anaerobic fluidized expansion chambers
Implementation Method 2
aerobic and/or anaerobic fluidized expansion chambers... removing nitrogenous waste such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
Implementation Method 3
microbial denitrification is a frequently used and inexpensive method of removing nitrogenous waste from wastewater
Data Source
AI summary
A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has a number of wastewater treatment subsystems. A wastewater collection subsystem holds wastewater to be treated. A pump subsystem moves wastewater from a wastewater collector to a filtration subsystem having a bioreacting filter. The filter has a sump and a fluidized-bed filter therein and supports the filter upright. The filter has an upwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body with filter media. A monitoring subsystem measures wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems. A communication device connects the wastewater treatment subsystems and the control devices and sends information corresponding to the wastewater process parameters measured by the monitors, receives control messages corresponding to the control commands, and transmits control commands the control devices to, thereby, alter a wastewater process parameter.